Automatic signal for parking lots



March 12, 1957 D; BALLESTEROS AUTOMATIC SIGNAL FOR PARKING LOTS FiledFeb. '24, 1955 FIG. 2

' FIG.

FIG. 1

I INVENTOR DAN/EL BALLESTEROS AUTOMATIC SIGNAL FOR PARKING LOTS DanielBallesteros, Miami, Fla. Application February 24, 1955, Serial No.490,233- 6 Claims. (Cl. 116-28) My invention relates to an automaticsignal for parking lots to help a customer locate a vacant parkingspace. This signal operates when a car parks or leaves a parking space.

Fig. 1. Elevation view. The cutout in the middle of the pipe shows therod 4. The cutout at the upper part of the pipe shows the connection ofthe rod with the balance. T he opening at the lower part of the pipe isto permit the end of the rod to come out of the pipe, so it can beconnected to the lever.

Fig. 2. Shows the balance when it drops, and a switch, when anelectrical signal is desired, that operates with the weight of thebalance, disconnecting it, when it drops and connecting it when it goesback to the normal position.

Fig. 3. Shows the plates 1 and 2, the prolongation 13 of the lever andthe lever 3 itself.

When the car parks, one of the front wheels rolls upon the vehicleengaging means in the form of platform 1. The platform actuates couplingmeans in the form of lever 3 pivotally connected by part 13 withplatform 1 and pivotally connected at 7 with operating element 4. Asshown in the drawing the part 13 is welded to the underside of thecurved portion of platform 1 and is provided at its other end with anaxially projecting pin 13A which extends through an opening in lever 3.Preferably the opening in lever 3 is in the form of a slot extendinglongitudinally of lever 3 to accommodate lateral relative movementbetween platform 1 and lever 3 as the parts operate. The lever 3 pushesup a vertical operating rod i-vertical to the floor-which has a movableconnection 5' with a lance or indicating element 16. The lance holds afiag or signal. The pivot 5 permits the lance to drop due to gravity,since the indicating element is unbalanced, whenever the operatingelement 4 is moved upwardly.

A vertical control pipe 6 mounted on the baseplate 18 by means of aflanged collar 19 holds the operating rod inside and permits the same tomove freely. The rod t in the lower extreme has a movable pivotconnection 7 with the lever 3.

The lever is balanced with its supporting point 8 approximately in themiddle of its length. A vase 9 settled in the baseplate 18 holds thatpoint at a couple of inches from the ground. That point is movable.

At the other end of the coupling 3 is a prolongation 13 disposed at anangle of 90 degrees and horizontal to the floor. Over that prolongationthe plate 1 is supported at one of its ends normally about 3 inches fromthe floor, due to the action of a spring 10. A plate 2 is hingedlyconnected at its left-hand edge with the right-hand edge of platform lby a hinge 14 so as to accommodate flexure of the parts 1 and 2 alongtheir adjacent edges.

When the car leaves the parking space, the plate is returned to itsnormal position, because of the spring, and moves the prolongation 13upwardly and the pivot 7 downwardly. For that reason the rod goes downand brings a few inches of the indicating element inside the pipe 6.

nited States Patent 0 5 2,784,692 Patented Mar. 12, 1957 The sides ofcontrol element 6 hold the indicating element coaxial with operating rod4. When the rod 4 is pushed upwardly the connection 5 moves outside ofthe control element 6 and the indicating element is free to swing aboutits pivot 5.

The signal may have different forms: flags, triangles, squares etc.

The signal can also have an electric light 12 that normally is on, andwhen the car parks, the balance, as it drops, would disconnect a switch11 so the light goes ofi. Light 12 is mounted on indicating element 16Aand switch 11 is controlled by switch plunger 17 which is engaged byelement 16A.

The platform 1 is bent upwardly at the extreme of the prolongation sothe car stops at that point.

What I claim as new is:

1. Indicating means for use in parking vehicles comprising an operatingelement, an indicating element movabiy mounted on said operating elementand having a normal position relative thereto, said indicating elementbeing biased for movement from its normal to an operated position, acontrol element normally disposed in coaxial relation with saidoperating and indicating elements and normally effective to hold saidindicating element in its normal position, and means engageable by apart of a vehicle for imparting relative axial movement to said controlelement and to said operating and indicating elements to cause saidindicating element to move from its normal position to an operatedposition.

2. Indicating means for use in parking vehicles comprising an operatingelement, an unbalanced indicating element movably mounted on saidoperating element and having a normal position relative thereto, acontrol element normally disposed in coaxial relation to said operatingand indicating elements and effective normally to hold said indicatingelement in its normal position, a vehicle engaging element having anormal position and movable to an operated position upon engagement by apart of a vehicle, and coupling means interconnecting said vehicleengaging element and said operating element, movement of said operatingelement being effective to render said indicating element movable due toits unbalanced condition.

3. Indicating means for use in parking vehicles comprising an operatingelement, an indicating element movably mounted on said operating elementand having a normal substantially coaxial position relative thereto andbeing biased for movement out of its normal position, a fixed controlelement normally disposed i [1 coaxial relation to said operating andindicating elements and normally effective to hold said indicatingelement in its normal position, a platform biased toward a normalposition and movable to an operated position upon engagement by a wheelof a vehicle, and coupling means pivotally connected with said platformand with said operating element for imparting operating movement to saidoperating and indicating elements thereby to render said control elementineffective to hold said indicating element in its normal position.

4. Indicating means for use in parking vehicles comprising a verticallydisposed hollow control element, an operating element disposed withinsaid control element and movable vertically therein, an indicatingelement movably mounted on said operating element and normally having asubstantially coaxial relationship therewith, and means engageable by apart of a vehicle for imparting relative axial movement to said controlelement and to said operating and indicating elements to cause saidindicating element to move from its normal position to an operatedposition.

5. Indicating means for use in parking vehicles comprising a verticalhollow tubular control element, a vertically disposed operating rod insaid control element, an indicating element pivotally mounted on saidoperating rod near the upper end thereof, said control element normallybeing effective to hold said indicating element in a normal positionrelative to said operating rod, and means for moving said operating rodand said indicating element in a vertical direction relative to saidcontrol element thereby to render said control element ineffective tohold said indicating element in its normal position relative to saidoperating rod.

6. Indicating means for use in parking vehicles comprising a verticallydisposed hollow control element, an operating element disposed Withinsaid control element and movable vertically therein, an unbalancedindicating element pivotally mounted on said operating element near theupper end thereof, said control element normally being efiective to holdsaid indicating element and said operating element in a substantiallyvertical coaxial relation, and means engageable by apart of a vehiclefor moving said operating element and said indicating element in anupward direction relative to said control element thereby to render saidcontrol element ineffective to hold said indicating element in coaxialrelation with said operating element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,141,024 Ulery May 25, 1915 1,973,275 Babson Sept. 11, 1934 2,178,315Sweetland Oct. 31, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS 322,983 Germany July 13, 1920

